The health department in the district will undertake mass de-worming of children in the age group of 1 to 19 on August 10 to rid them of parasitic worm infection. All the children will be administered Albendazole tablets at facilities arranged at all educational institutions including private schools, anganwadis and health centres across the district. Health workers, teachers, Asha workers and Kudumbasree workers will be trained to administer the tablets to the children.
Widespread issue
De-worming Day is being observed with the aim to prevent or cure infections contracted through soil, like round worm, flukes and tapeworm. It is a widespread health issue affecting over 241 million children in the country.
The infection affects the nutrient uptake of children, leading to anaemia, malnourishment and impaired mental and physical development. It poses a serious threat to the education and productivity of the children as most infected children are too sick or tired to concentrate in class, or even to attend it.
The tablet will be administered to the children at schools after lunch on August 10 and the same will be marked against their name in the attendance roll. Those who are unable to receive the dose on August 10 will be administered the tablet at the mop-up round on August 16.
Deputy Collector Abdunnassar B. presided over a meeting held in this regard at the Kozhikode collectorate on Wednesday. DMO R.L. Saritha; DMO (Homoeopathy) Kavitha Purushothaman; District Panchayat Secretary Parthasarathy; and IMA representative Ajith Bhaskar were present.
